The DDI Standard is an open metadata standard for the Social Sciences and is mainly used by various data archives and larger research projects. The benefits of using standardized metadata and applying DDI are improved data documentation, automatic reports, interoperability, re-use of metadata, along with data comparison and harmonization. Very few small- and medium-sized research projects have adopted DDI so far. Challenges to adopt include high initial costs to implement DDI as part of new project management workflows, as well as the traditional working processes of researchers. A business case can be made for initial investments, as these will save costs in the long-term, but often these do not directly benefit the researchers. Adjustments in how research is conducted, however, can help researchers realize the benefits of standardized metadata during the course of a research project and afterwards. Such approaches could benefit from adjustments in the basic software tools researchers are accustomed to using. This paper aims to present straight forward ways and tools for these research projects to implement DDI and thus realize benefits from the start of a project. This paper examines the challenges faced by small- and medium-sized projects, and how DDI could be realistically used through the adjustment of working practices. It also identifies those areas where existing research software tools could be adjusted to better support metadata standards, and help to realize the benefits of their use. Thus, the paper addresses researchers and will reveal ways to make their research data management more efficient. It promotes DDI as an effective tool which can be applied by researchers in small- and medium-sized projects. Once accustomed to DDI, these researchers will have the skills and knowledge to use this standard in larger projects later in their careers, thereby contributing to the strength of the larger DDI community.